I've given this five stars because I really do think this is a dandy little camera, but it wasn't the right purchase for me, and I gave it away to a friend for an early Christmas present. I think you should know:
1. This is a very small camera. It is not the size of a Coke can, think more the size of a little V-8 can. It is entirely plastic and it weighs practically nothing at all. Really, it weighs less than my television remote. That can be good or bad. You can shove it into the pocket of a jacket and forget you are even carrying it, so it's always with you. Like a TV remote, you can probably drop it without damaging it because it has so little mass. But, if you have unusually large hands, like mine, or arthritis, like me, or your hands have become insensitive through age or manual labor, also like mine, you may have trouble picking it up or holding onto it. I can only get three fingers of my hand through the strap up to the middle knuckle, and that is with the strap adjusted all the way out, as loose as it will go. The menu button, a four-way rocker with an "enter" or "OK" button in the center is about the diameter of a garden pea. Not only will my big thumbs not operate this button, but the switch that changes from "video" to "playback" is directly below the rocker switch, and my thumb covers them both and I end up pushing both at the same time. If you leave this sitting on a restaurant table, you may not even notice that it is no longer in your pocket, because it only weighs a few ounces.
2. If I am reading the display correctly, a 64GB micro SD will hold 7+ hours worth of video. The batteries last about 2 hours and a dead flat battery will take the better part of 3 hours to recharge. Get the Powerextra 2 pack replacement Sony NP-BX1, also sold on Amazon. It has two extra batteries, and a charger that you can charge from a wall socket or from a car 12v outlet. I can testify that it charges faster than the wall charger that comes with the camera, and if you are at an all day event you will need those extra batteries.
This is a very nice camcorder. It has an excellent lens, the digital zoom is just spectacular. It will take still pictures as well, even while you are making a video. I gave it to a gal who is very small, has small hands, and can text on a mini keyboard cell phone with both thumbs. She navigates menus within menus like it was second nature. She loves it. It just wasn't made for a fella like me.
| Brand Name | Sony |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.2 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 5 x 2.1 x 2.3 inches |
| Item model number | HDRCX405/B |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
| Special Features | Lightweight, Anti-Shake, Time Lapse |
